Mt Hutt delays opening day

Media release from Mt Hutt
8 June 2011

Mt Hutt delays opening day

Mild temperatures in June, following on from a record warm May, have resulted in Canterbury's Mt Hutt ski area delaying the start of its 2011 season.

The ski area was scheduled to open this Saturday (June 11) but unusually mild temperatures means it has been unable to make snow for more than a week.

Ski area manager David Wilson said Mt Hutt received a 'skiff" of snow last night (June 7).

"It looks like the weather patterns are definitely changing, but it needs to be consistently cold for us to make snow," he said.

"We need around 30 to 40cm of snow on the main trails to open. It's hugely disappointing for management and staff at Mt Hutt that we can't get the season underway this Saturday, but we'll open on the very first day we possibly can.

"All our mountain staff are on board this week training, and our snowmaking team is on 24-hour standby for temperatures to drop.

"This year we've added our first automated snowmaking line with the addition of 16 guns on the International trail, which means for the first time we can make snow on all our main trails in the build up to opening.

"We know there are a lot of keen Methven, Christchurch and Canterbury locals and loyal supporters who are champing at the bit to test their ski and snowboard legs with the first few runs of the season and we're just as keen as they are.

Mr Wilson said he was philosophical about the warmer temperatures as it had happened before.

"With temperatures slowly coming down I don't think the delay will be for too long before we can open. It only takes one or two snowfalls to change the season completely."

ENDS

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